KUBOTA Warranty research

Mark45 · Aug 8, 2003

At the risk of being flamed, I would like to post a follow up from a post that was deleted last week, but I read before it was deleted. Regardless of the posts by CW and the rather derogatory remarks by other Kubota owners, this research is self serving as I was torn between the John Deere and the Kubota tractors.

I did some calling around and finally contacted the Western Regional Manager for Kubota and asked him point blank about the issues that CW posted on this board. His name is Phil Ingram and his phone number is 209.931.5051.

His response essentially tells me I should go with a John Deere. His response was point blank that the backhoe was abused. I asked him in what way? He stated that because it had a non-Kubota thumb installed, it is considered abuse. Kubota will not warranty the installation of any non-Kubota accessory or attachment and any failure that may be related to said installation. I stated that it is common to install a thumb on a backhoe and that both Kubota and John Deere dealers usually have them in stock and are more than willing to install them. He said that a thumb is not on the Kubota price list and therefore, it is an unauthorized accessory and it voids the warranty.

Further, he added that CW had misused the backhoe. I asked in what way? He stated that he used to dig up tree stumps and the backhoe is not intended for that purpose. Therefore, Kubota will not warranty the backhoe.

I then discussed this with the John Deere dealership and they said that most likely John Deere would replace it because it is a new piece of equipment with less than 100 hours on it. That John Deere wants to have “customers for life” and any time a customer thinks of equipment, they want them to think “John Deere”.

So, there you have it. I think in my personal opinion that Kubota gave CW a raw deal and, if anyone has non-Kubota accessories or attachments and you have a PTO go out or some other warranty issue – don’t tell them you used a non-Kubota product.

So, off to the JD dealer to buy my new tractor tomorrow!
Mark -- /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bob999 · Aug 8, 2003

According to your post the Kubota position is that the backhoe was abused. Do you think that the Deere warranty would apply if their backhoe was abused?

I think you would be well advised to discuss the John Deere warranty with a regional manager rather than a dealer hoping to sell you a tractor. If possible, get the answers in writing if you are contemplating something like installation of a thumb on a backhoe. You should also read the written warranty carefully and make sure that anything you are told actually is provided by the warranty--or legally supercedes the warranty as appropriate.

Mark45 · Aug 8, 2003

You're right, I will contact the JD rep to confirm. However, if digging tree stumps is considered abusive, then what can you do with a backhoe. After all, that's what I want to use it for too. And I did specifically ask the JD dealer and his response is of course what one would expect - a lot of folks us it for digging up tree stumps, water lines, rocks, you name it.

But I will contact the JD rep its a good idea.

BillG_in_TX · Aug 8, 2003

Mark,

I think you should read the JD warranty before you make any decisions about altering your new backhoe. Especially paragraphs C(2) and F.

MikePA · Aug 8, 2003

I think you would be well advised to discuss the John Deere warranty with a regional manager rather than a dealer hoping to sell you a tractor. 
I agree with Bob999...comparing the response from a factory employee, from any vendor, is not the same as discussing the same issue with a dealer, who is not a factory employee.

I imagine that some of the 'flexibility' dealers show when it comes to warranty work could be a function of the dealer either liberally interpreting the warranty and/or covering some of the cost of a repair themselves.

As Bob999 also mentioned, get it in writing from the dealer, any dealer, since 'a verbal contract aint worth the paper it's written on.' /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

chrisjbell · Aug 8, 2003

At the risk of being flamed 

There should never be any flaming on TBN. This isn't that kind of forum.

 Kubota will not warranty the installation of any non-Kubota accessory or attachment 

Yup, that is true. Can't blame 'em though, considering some of the things folks will do.

I had to have warranty service done twice on my Kubota. One was my fault (details available, but embarassing and somewhat lengthy) but was fixed by a service call at no charge. The other one required that they replace the steering column, which they also did at no charge. No hassles at all. Might be that I got lucky with my dealer but I've found Kubota just fine to deal with.

(I also have a JD tractor, which I also think is great - I'm not trying to sway your decision either way.)

BillyP · Aug 8, 2003

Mark, it doesn't matter what brand you buy. All warranties are written pretty much the same.

The only thing I have an issue with is if the dealer installs something that will void your warranty, he should either tell you up front (it's your baby then) or pay if it breaks. A lot of this warranty stuff is left up to the dealer.

As others have mentioned, you best get it in writing. It doesn't matter what color it is.

Just remember, a warranty is to protect both seller and buyer.

stvman · Aug 8, 2003

I have called Kubotas north east office in Ohio on a couple of questions to which I got a response that I did not want to hear, but they were up front about it. (by the way the dealer said it could be done)

I think the issue with CW lies with the dealer. If there is no disclaimer on the sales order voiding the warranty they need to step up to the plate and take care of him. I think if this was not done Kubota should also spank the dealer for failing to do so.

I go into factories on warranty repairs on equipment on a fairly consistent basis. Very rarely does anyone admit to doing something stupid to cause the damage. As far as CW goes we may never know for shure what happened but in my business when a brand new piece of equipment fails for any reason you sometimes have to bite the bullet and at least split the cost for repairs.

If I were the dealer I would more than likely tell CW to pick whatever brand hoe he wants then order all the replacment parts to repair the Kubota hoe and sell it as used after I installed the new hoe.

bigpete · Aug 8, 2003

Sometimes a dealer will work with a customer to help provide information to the manufacturer that might show a modification was not related to a failure. Bucket hooks on a loader would not likely cause a lift arm cylinder to blowout, for example. Perhaps the dealer would not, or could not, provide information to Kubota that would discount "abuse." Keep in mind the broad definition of "abuse" in these cases. Also, there may have been other damage or circumstance of which we are totally unaware.

The old addage of "more than one side to the story" might apply. My neighbor and good friend, a State Troopers, puts it this way:

"When two cars collide with drivers only--no passengers or any other witnesses--there are really 3 collisions. Each driver will describe a different wreck, and the third wreck is the one that really happened."

I think it wise to have a selling dealer take care of most of these types of modifications up front so there is no question about the whos and hows of the modifications. It may not always help, but at least the dealer (a good one, anyway) will be in your camp. I'm not trying to diminish any of the original story behind this. I don't have enough information to take one side ot the other. Just offering a general perspective.

Good luck with whichever brand you end up with.

JATO_RaT · Aug 8, 2003

Mark, I still have almost all of CW's post if your interested, it's in cache. I respectfully disagree that the remarks were derogatory. Most if not all asked for more detail prior to making a pretty strong statement like he did. Some were aimed at other TBN members for what appeared to be piling on. Rat...